What is The Long Climb?

I started The Long Climb — the title was inspired by this song — when I was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 41 years old, finally answering my most aching question - “WTF is wrong with me?”. I was burned out, traumatized, and hurtling into middle age. It really felt l like I was climbing out of a deep, dank cave, with no idea when I would see the sunlight, and I felt very much alone. I always knew I was different, and I struggled with my mental health for decades before finally having a correct diagnosis.

I came to Substack with the intention of finding fellowship with other late-diagnosed women, and I felt called to help other people in similar situations who felt alone or ignored. It was my mission to combat stigma and misinformation, provide solace, and work towards an understanding of a self that was sometimes a stranger to me.

I found all of that, and so much more. This isn’t just a newsletter, it’s a community, and it sustains my soul in these difficult times.